Automatic reversing self-rocking cradle carriage



March 13,1928. 1,662,754

H. H. MILLARD v AUTOMATIC REVERSING SELF ROCKING CRADLE CARRIAGE C Filed Feb. 1o, 1927 2 sheets-sneer 1 March 13, 1928. 1,662,754

H. H. MILLARD AUTOMATIC RETERSING SELF BOOKING CRADLE CARRIAGE llllllll' i i L7 E ,Mm-wz Patented \Mar. 13, 1928.

HERMAN H. MILLARD, or con-RY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC REVEZRSING'k kSELF-ROCKING CRADLE CARRIAGE.

lApplication led 'Februaryi`10, 1927. Serial yNo. 167,292.

This invention relates to apparatus of that type comprisinga carriage and a baby cradle rockably mounted on the carriage.

The invent-ion has for one of its objects to provide a novel, simple and highly efficient apparatus of this character whichl shall comprise means adapted to automatically move the carriage back and forth in a path of predetermined lengt-h and at the same time automatically rock orsWing the cradle from side to side.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein the carriage propelling and cradle rocking means shall be of such construction as to permit the cradle to be held against rocking movement While the carriage is in motion or to permit the carriage to remain at rest While the cradle is in motion.

' With the foregoing and other objects` in View, the nature of Which Will become apparent as the description proceeds, the mvcntion consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- wherein:`

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the apparatus,

VFigure 2 is a vievv in end elevation of the apparatus', n

Figure 3 is a. sectionalview taken on the vertical plane indicated byk the line 3 3 of Figure 1, y

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the carriage ofthe apparatus,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by thel line 5-5 o'l' Figure il, f 4

r Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure t, and l Figure 7 is a similar plane indicated by the line -7-`7 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings'by reference characters, 1 designates the carriage of the apparatus. This part comprises a frame which is of elongated rectangular formation and comprises side bars 2 and 3, front and rear end bars 4 and a bar 5 positioned centrally between the side bars and secured to the eri bars. The frame is supported by Wheels 6 which are xed to axles 7 and-8.

The axles 7 and 8 are journaledlin bearings 9 ed tothe side bars 2 and 3, Standards view taken o n the or uprights V1() are secured to the end barslicentrally between the side bars 2 and 3, and are vprovided at their upper ends With open bearings 11. Braces 12 are secured to the end bars f1 and to the standards 10, i

and one o'l the standards carries a thumb bolt 13.

T ie cradle let which may be made of anyl suitable material and of any suitable con figuration, comprises a body 15 anda top or cover 16. kThe top or cover 16 is removably secured to the body y15 by spring pressed bolts 17 which are secured to the body and ret-ractably'engaged with keepers 18 secured to the top. The cradle 111 ,is rockably mounted on the carriage 1 through the medium of ayoke 19 to and Within which the body `15' is secured. The yoke 19 is provided y at its upper ends with trunnions 20 Which are mounted in the bearings 11. The cradle 14. may be held against rocking movement With `respect tothe carriage 1 by turning the thumb bolt 13 into engagement with the adjacent end member of the yoke'19. y

The means for automatically movingl the carriage 1 back and forth in a path of predetermined length, comprises anelectric motor 21 of approximately oneeighth`horse powe'rand secured to the bars 2 and 5, A

shaft 2,2"extending transversely of thecarriage 1 andy journaled in bearings23 carried by the bals 2 and 5, is driven from the motor 21 by a belt 24', and is provided With a crank' axle 7 and which is adapted to be engaged i with and disengaged from the axle through the medium of a clutch 31..

The reciprocation of the rack bar 26 imparts a forward and backward movement tok the carriage 1. The distance that the carriage l is moved may be varied by adjusting the pin 32 on the crank 25 With respect to the shaft 22. lThe rate of motion of the carriage 1 can be Varied through the medium of a rheostat 33`whicli is included in the circuit of the motor 21 and secured to the bar 2.

The means for rocking the cradle 14 coinprises a shaft `3st journaled in a bearing 35 carried by the bar 5 and provided with a disk 36 having wrist pinv 37. The shaft 34 is driven freni the motor 21 by a belt 38. A link 39 is connected to the cradle 14 and to the wrist pin 37 sothat the shaft 34 willV when in motion imparta. rocking movement to the cradle.

The clutch 31 comprises a member L51a splined to the axle 7 and a member 51b loose on the axle. The member 31hvis provided with an arcuate slot 31C for the reception of a pin 8OLL projecting laterally from the pinion 30, and buffers 1d are secured within the'slot at opposite sides of the pin. The clutch 31 is of such construction and. so connected to lthe pinion that the carriage 1 isV stopped the limit` of its movement in each direction and its direction of travel reversed lwithout appreciable To render it impossible for a child to tilt the cradle 14- far enough to dislodge the infant from the cradle, a horizontal rods() is secured to and between thestandards 10 at a point below and in close proximity to the bottom of the cradle. The position of the rod L10 with respectto the cradle 14 is such that the bottom of the cradle will contact therewith before the cradle reaches such an angular position as to cause the infant to roll orfall therefrom.

The cradle 14 may be rocked while the carriage 1 is in motion, and the angle through whichy it is movedmay be varied by adjusting the wrist -pin 37 on the disk 3G with respect to the shaft 34. lVhen it is desired to secure the cradle 111 against rock ing movement `the thumb bolt 13 is turned into engagement with the yoke 19 and the` belt 38 is shifted off of its pulley onthe shaft 34E. `The rate of the rocking movement of the cradle 1st may be regulated through the medium of the rheostat 83. l `When it is desired to permit the carriage 1 to remain at rest while the cradle 14 is being rocked, it is only necessary to throw out the clutch 31 or throw oft the belt 24.

It should be understood that the Vdrawings are merely illustrative and do not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, lthe said drawings are illustrative ofa preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the Spirit and scope of my invention.

That is claimed is v 1. An apparatus of the character set forth, comprising wheels, axles supported by the wheels, a frame mounted on the axles, up-

rightssecured to the frame, a guiding and supporting bar secured to the uprights, a rack bar suspended from `the guiding and supporting bar.` a pinion mountedupon one of the axles and meshing with the rack bar, a shaft jourualed in the frame and provided with a. crank connected to the raclrbana cradle Vrockably supported by .the uprights, a

ported by the bar for sliding movement i thereon and longitudinallylhereof, a rack bar positioned beneath the rod and supported therefrom Yby the lmembers, a pinion connected to one of the axles and meshing with the rack bar, and rack bar operatingmeans.

3. An apparatus of the character set forth, comprising a wheel supported frame, up-

rights secured fto the front and rearends ofd the frame, a cradle positioned between the uprights and rockably supported from the upper ends thereof,` a horizontal rod secured to and between the uprights in close proximity to the bottom of the cradleand adapted to limit the swinging movement of the cradle,and cradle rocking means carried by the frame and connected to the cradle.

l1. An apparatus ofthe character set forth7 comprising wheels, axles supported by the wheels, a frame mounted on the axles, a cradle mounted on theV frame, a pinion loose on one of the axles and provided with a. pin projecting laterally therefrom7 a member connected to such axle and provided with an arcuate slot for the reception'of the pin,l

buffers mounted in the slot at opposite sides of the pin, a rack bar meshing with the pin ion, and rack bar operating means.

In testimony whereof'l aHix my signature.

HERMANE. MILLARD. 

